Khanyi Mlaba
Give your home a fresh new feel for summer. Simply add tropical prints, natural textures and whites. Cara Slater-Middlewick of Cara Slater Designs shows you how.
JUNGLE FEVER
Don’t be afraid to incorporate tropical prints in to your decor. Cara advises being bold and committing to a tropical wallpaper. “For something unexpected and contemporary, add a touch of black.”
Be eclectic by using a mix of prints and textures. “Layering prints in large and small scale adds interest while keeping the look harmonious,” she notes.
READ MORE: Add floral touches to your home this summer
FRESHLY MINTED
Mint is a great colour that’s on-trend this season. “New scatter cushions are a simple way to give a room a new look. Pick up the colours in other accessories like glassware.” The natural timber headboard gives the room an organic feel which is contemporary yet timeless.
“Use vases as ornaments,” advises Cara. Large leaves cut from the garden make a mod statement. “A jute rug is a classic, forever item. It’s so versatile and can up-style a space or make it look more casual,” says Cara,
NATURE TRAIL
Add organic elements to the mix. This bamboo mirror (below) in the guest bathroom, combined with coral pieces, gives the room a fresh summer feel. “Dark walls make everything pop, especially white and mint accessories. Pretty printed tea towels can double as guest towels,” Cara adds.
TIP: Choose resin coral items rather than the real thing to remain eco-friendly.
TAKE IT OUTSIDE
“Show off a beautifully printed fabric by ordering a couple of meters, then turn it into a table cloth,” says Cara. “It’s an easy way to incorporate a gorgeous pattern without committing to wallpaper or a window treatment.” Set the table with chunky grass mats, from Homestead Décor, with delicate blown and etched glassware and ceramic crockery in fresh colours. Mixing organic textures like wood, grass and wicker emphasises the outdoor setting.
WHITE HOT
Give an old piece of furniture a fresh new look with white upholstery or a lick of white paint. “This antique chair has been given a contemporary feel with its new white covers,” says Cara who included subtle graphic elements to enhance the mod feel. “The seagrass rug is a durable, easy-to-clean choice and creates an eye-catching pattern on the floor,” she notes. A summer alternative to pot plants is to pick some of the lush greenery in the garden and display it indoors in a large vase as Cara has done with an Agave plant.
GLASS GARDEN
A carefully curated collection of glassware and ceramics makes a statement on a kitchen counter. “Sorbet shades of green and blush are very on trend for summer,” says Cara. “Pair different shades with a modern cloche and a quirky bird for a display that’s guaranteed to be a talking point.”
MORE TRENDS: 8 Striking interior colour combinations
